Airline passenger traffic is growing strongly in South Africa. "Passenger growth in South Africa is defying all economic logic!" highlighted Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) CEO Bongani Maseko on Friday. Passenger traffic growth usually reflects growth in gross domestic product (GDP). "GDP growth is stagnant, passenger growth is exceptionally robust."

He was speaking at the launch of ACSA's first 'Aviation Barometer', a quarterly report on air passenger traffic and airliner movements through most of the main South African airports. "We're seeing quite healthy growth in our industry," he observed.

The first edition of 'Aviation Barometer' actually covers two quarters – January to March and April to June this year. Both cover domestic passenger arrivals and departures, regional (defined as being the other member countries of the Southern African Customs Union, namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) and international passenger arrivals and departures.

Passenger arrivals in the first quarter of this year were up across the board in comparison to the first quarter of last year. Domestic arrivals jumped 11.4%, while international arrivals were up 2.3% and regional arrivals by 2%. Total arrivals were up 8.4%. A similar pattern applies to departures. Domestic departures were up 11.3%, international departures rose 3.1% and regional departures by 1.8%. Total departures increased by 8.6%.

For the second quarter, in comparison with the same period last year, again there were increases in all categories. Domestic arrivals rose by 5%, international arrivals by 3.2% and regional arrivals by 7%, while total arrivals were up 4.6%. Domestic departures increased by 6.6%, international departures by 3.6%, regional departures by 8.3% and total departures by 5.8%.

"We're seeing a lot more regional airlines flying into our airports," he reported. There is also increased traffic from elsewhere in Africa. He cited Ethiopian Airlines' service to Durban (launched at the end of last year) and Kenya Airways' even more recent service between Victoria Falls (technically, Livingstone), in Zambia, and Cape Town.

Regarding international traffic, the "stronger foreign currencies make South Africa a very attractive destination," pointed out Maseko. There is a seasonal variation, however. "The winter season . . . we do tend to see less travel."